UPDATE ON BLOC 8406 DETAINEES ARRESTED LAST FALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 000367


FOR DRL/MLGA, EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON BLOC 8406 DETAINEES ARRESTED LAST FALL

Classified By: PolCouns Brian Aggeler. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has provided
additional information about thirteen political dissidents
arrested since September 2008. The update comes in response
to a joint letter to VFM Pham Binh Minh from the Ambassador,
the Group of Four (Canada, New Zealand, Norway and
Switzerland) and the European Union, as well as a separate
appeal from the Australians. According to the MPS, two of
the thirteen were convicted of violating Vietnam's catch-all
national security provision (Article 88) and sentenced to
jail time, six have remained in detention for more than seven
months awaiting formal charges, and four have been released.
One additional individual, Vu Hung, is still in detention
although the investigation into him was recently terminated.
While all thirteen have been connected in some way with the
Bloc 8406 political movement, the six individuals who remain
in detention are the most well known and prominent.


2. (C) Vu Hung's status remains something of a mystery. Hung
has been the subject of appeals from Amnesty International
and International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, as well as
a formal expression of concern from the Embassy. The MPS
denied a request for the DCM to meet with Hung on the grounds
that he was still under investigation. On April 16, Poloff
met with dissident author Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, who has close
contacts with Vu Hung's wife, and asked about his situation.
Thuy said that Hung's wife still has not heard from him or
been allowed to see him but that Hung's father was recently
contacted by MPS and asked to sign a form stating that if
released Hung won't break the law again. MPS also told
Hung's father that he is in good health. Thuy said that
Hung's family took this as a sign of his impending release.


3. (U) Below is Post's Unofficial Translation of the Ministry
of Public Security's response to the joint letter:

Nguyen Xuan Nghia, born in 1949 in Kien An, Hai Phong.
Detained, arrested and residence searched on 11 September
2008 by the Investigation Police of Ministry of Public
Security (MPS) (according to Art 88 of the Criminal Code).
Current health status: normal. Currently detained in
accordance with the law.

Pham Van Troi, born in 1972 in Hanoi. Detained, arrested and
residence searched on 11 Sept 2008 by the Investigation
Police of MPS (according to Art 88 of the Criminal Code).
Current health status: normal. Currently detained in
accordance with the law.

Nguyen Van Tuc, born in 1964, permanent resident in Dong
Hung, Thai Binh Province. Detained, arrested and residence
searched on 11 September 2008 by the Investigation Police of
MPS (according to Art 88 of the Criminal Code). Current
health status: normal. Currently detained in accordance
with the law.

Ngo Quynh, born in 1984, permanent resident in Bac Giang
Province. Detained, arrested and residence searched on 30
September 2008 by the Investigation Police of MPS (according
to Art 88 of the Criminal Code). Current health status:
normal. Currently detained in accordance with the law.

Tran Duc Thach, born in 1952 in Nghe An Province, permanent
resident in Ha Dong, Hanoi. Detained, arrested and residence
searched on 14 Sept 2008 by the Investigation Police of MPS
(according to Art 88 of the Criminal Code). Current health
status: normal. Currently detained in accordance with the
law.

Vu Hung (full name Vu Van Hung),born in 1966 in Kim Bang, Ha
Nam Province, permanent resident in Ha Dong, Hanoi.
Detained, arrested and residence searched on 19 Sept 2008 by
the Investigation Police of MPS (according to Art 88 of the
Criminal Code). At present the investigation has been
terminated. The Hanoi Police had requested exempting the
criminal responsibility for Hung and terminating the
investigation on the case.

Pham Thanh Nghiem, born in 1977 in Ngo Quyen, Hai Phong,
permanent resident in Hai Phong. On 18 September 2008, the
Hai Phong Police arrested red-handed Pham Thanh Nghiem for
breaching the Article 88 of the Criminal Code. Current
health status: normal. Currently detained in accordance
with the law.

Nguyen Kim Nhan, born in 1949 in Nghe An Province, permanent
resident in Bac Giang Province. Detained, arrested and
residence searched on 24 Sept 2008 by the Investigation
Police of MPS (according to Art 88 of the Criminal Code).
Nguyen Kim Nhan has been released to her locality. Health
status: normal.

Nguyen Van Tinh, born in 1942 in Hai Phong. Detained,
arrested and residence searched on 24 Sept 2008 by the
Investigation Police of MPS (according to Art 88 of the
Criminal Code). Has been released. Health status: normal.

Nguyen Thi Cam Hong, born in 1946, permanent resident in Long
An Province. Detained and put under detention on 15 Sept
2008 by Hanoi Police according to the arrest warrant by Long
An Police dated 27 August 2008. On 27 February 2009, at a
first instance trial by Long An People's Court, Hong was
sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for creating public
disorder and abusing democratic freedom rights against the
interests of the State and its citizens. Health status:
normal.

Duong Van Nam, born in 1970 in Tien Hung, Luc Nam, Bac Giang.
Nam is currently living in Bac Giang. Health status:
normal.

Le Thanh Tung (aka Le Ai Quoc),born in 1968, permanent
resident in Soc Son, Hanoi. Currently living in Bac Giang.
Health status: normal.

Ho Thi Bich Khuong, born in 1973 in Nghe An Province. In May
2005, Ho Thi Bich Khuong was arrested and sentenced to 6
months imprisonment by Ba Dinh People's Court for breaching
the article 245 of the Criminal Code on creating public
disorder. On 26 April 2007, Ho Thi Bich Khuong was arrested
red-handed by the Nghe An Police for breaching article 258 of
the Criminal Code and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by
the Nghe An People's Court. Health status: normal.


5. End Unofficial Translation.

MICHALAK